Alabama

Updated November 13, 2017 at 8:24 PM;Posted November 13, 2017 at 7:31 PM

In this March 22, 2017, file photo, Rep. Mo Brooks, R-Ala. is interviewed on Capitol Hill in Washington. In the Alabama race for Attorney General Jeff Sessions' former Senate seat, the Republican slugfest primary is about love of all things Trump, with contenders openly wooing Trump voters, and hatred of the so-called swamp of Washington D.C. Sen. Luther Strange, who was appointed to the position in February, is trying to fight off a field of firebrand challengers, including Brooks and former chief justice Roy Moore in the GOP primary. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)

U.S. Rep. Mo Brooks, R-Huntsville, is sticking with Republican Senate candidate Roy Moore in the wake of sexual misconduct allegations, arguing Monday that the conservative agenda is "vastly more important" than the claims against Moore.

"America faces huge challenges that are vastly more important than contested sexual allegations from four decades ago," Brooks said in a text message to AL.com. "Who will vote in America's best interests on Supreme Court justices, deficit and debt, economic growth, border security, national defense, and the like? Socialist Democrat Doug Jones will vote wrong. Roy Moore will vote right. Hence, I will vote for Roy Moore."

Moore has been accused by two women of initiating sexual encounters with them when they were 14 and 16 years old and Moore was in his 30s as an assistant district attorney in Etowah County. Moore has denied the allegations, saying the claims are politically motivated.

While Brooks said he would vote for Moore, he declined to say whether he still endorses the embattled Republican candidate. He also would not say whether he believes Moore or the women making the allegations, although he pointed to the Duke University lacrosse case as an example of sex claims that have been proven wrong.

"As a Duke grad, I vividly remember the false accusations against and defamation of the Duke lacrosse team. The players were horribly treated by the news media until the truth finally came out and totally exonerated them," he said. "As an attorney, I know accusations are easy. Proving them to the satisfaction of a judge, a jury, or here, voters, is another thing. I do not know enough of the evidence to know with confidence what the true facts are."

Although Moore's first public accuser, Leigh Corfman, is a Republican who voted for Donald Trump in 2016, Brooks suggested there is plenty of political motivation to make false claims.

"I do believe this, there are millions of people in America who would lie in a heartbeat if it meant adding another Democrat to the Senate," he said.

The Huntsville congressman earlier told Roll Call that he would be voting for Moore because of policy issues.

"I have seen what a lot of people have said. A United States senator from Alabama is going to have a huge effect on national public policy issues and the votes that will be cast on the Senate floor will determine the future of our country. That is my primary concern," he said.

Brooks, who was a candidate for the Senate seat in the Republican primary, was ambiguous about whether he would mount a write-in campaign for the Dec. 12 special election. Brooks went on to endorse Moore.

"As long as Roy Moore is our nominee, a Republican cannot wage a write-in campaign, under Alabama Republican Party rules, and be on the ballot as a Republican in the future," he said.

Meanwhile, conservative pundit Ann Coulter, who endorsed Brooks in the primary, advocated on Twitter for Moore to be replaced on the ballot with Brooks: